Cascading effects: insights from the U.S. Long Term Ecological Research Network

Bahlai, Christie A.; Hart, Clarisse; Kavanaugh, Maria T.; White, Jeffrey D.; Ruess, Roger W.; Brinkman, Todd J.; Ducklow, Hugh W.; Foster, David R.; Fraser, William R.; Genet, Hélène; Groffman, Peter M.; Hamilton, Stephen K.; Johnstone, Jill F.; Kielland, Knut; Landis, Douglas A.; Mack, Michelle C.; Sarnelle, Orlando; Thompson, Jonathan R.

doi:10.1002/ecs2.3430

Cited by 12 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 128 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Latitudinal changes in NAP phytoplankton biomass have been recorded and attributed to regional climate patterns reflected by a progressive warming towards the southern end of the Peninsula, with increasing chlorophyll‐ a in that sector, contrasting with trends recorded northwards (Brown et al, 2019; Montes‐Hugo et al, 2009). Moreover, these changes in phytoplankton biomass have been followed by shifts in community composition, particularly resulting in a smaller fraction of large diatoms in the northern sector (Bahlai et al, 2021; Brown et al, 2019; Montes‐Hugo et al, 2009; Schofield et al, 2010). In the NAP region, specifically, several studies have reported an increasing contribution of small cryptophytes to the phytoplankton community composition (e.g., Mendes et al, 2013; Mendes, Tavano, Dotto, et al, 2018; Mendes, Tavano, Kerr, et al, 2018), with our decadal in situ dataset suggesting a niche segregation between cryptophytes and diatoms based on physical and chemical properties of the water‐column (Figure S2).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, these changes in phytoplankton biomass have been followed by shifts in community composition, particularly resulting in a smaller fraction of large diatoms in the northern sector (Bahlai et al, 2021;Brown et al, 2019;Montes-Hugo et al, 2009;Schofield et al, 2010). In the NAP region, specifically, several studies have reported an increasing contribution of small cryptophytes to the phytoplankton community composition (e.g., Mendes et al, 2013;, with our decadal in situ dataset suggesting a niche segregation between cryptophytes and diatoms based on physical and chemical properties of the water-column (Figure S2).…”

Section: The Distribution Dominance Patterns and Niche Preferences Of...mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Cryptophytes: An emerging algal group in the rapidly changing Antarctic Peninsula marine environments

Mendes

Costa

Ferreira

et al. 2023

Global Change Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) is a climatically sensitive region where foundational changes at the basis of the food web have been recorded; cryptophytes are gradually outgrowing diatoms together with a decreased size spectrum of the phytoplankton community. Based on a 11‐year (2008–2018) in‐situ dataset, we demonstrate a strong coupling between biomass accumulation of cryptophytes, summer upper ocean stability, and the mixed layer depth. Our results shed light on the environmental conditions favoring the cryptophyte success in coastal regions of the WAP, especially during situations of shallower mixed layers associated with lower diatom biomass, which evidences a clear competition or niche segregation between diatoms and cryptophytes. We also unravel the cryptophyte photo‐physiological niche by exploring its capacity to thrive under high light stress normally found in confined stratified upper layers. Such conditions are becoming more frequent in the Antarctic coastal waters and will likely have significant future implications at various levels of the marine food web. The competitive advantage of cryptophytes in environments with significant light level fluctuations was supported by laboratory experiments that revealed a high flexibility of cryptophytes to grow in different light conditions driven by a fast photo‐regulating response. All tested physiological parameters support the hypothesis that cryptophytes are highly flexible regarding their growing light conditions and extremely efficient in rapidly photo‐regulating changes to environmental light levels. This plasticity would give them a competitive advantage in exploiting an ecological niche where light levels fluctuate quickly. These findings provide new insights on niche separation between diatoms and cryptophytes, which is vital for a thorough understanding of the WAP marine ecosystem.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Distribution Dominance Patterns and Niche Preferences Of...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Cryptophytes: An emerging algal group in the rapidly changing Antarctic Peninsula marine environments

Mendes

Costa

Ferreira

et al. 2023

Global Change Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Lady beetles contribute broadly to biological control as predators of key arthropod pests (Obrycki and Kring 1998, Evans 2009, Weber and Lundgren 2009, Rondoni et al 2021), but the introduction and establishment of exotic lady beetle species threaten native species and the long-term resilience of this ecosystem service (Bahlai et al 2021). Following their establishment and spread within North America, the exotic species H. axyridis and C. septempunctata have become dominant within many native lady beetle communities (Alyokhin and Sewell 2004, Harmon et al 2007, Bahlai, Colunga-Garcia, et al 2015, Gardiner et al 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coexistence between similar invaders: The case of two cosmopolitan exotic insects

Arnold

Back

Crowell

et al. 2022

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Biological invasions have become widespread, threatening native biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, most studies have focused on the impacts of exotic species on natives, and fewer have examined dynamics between invaders, when multiple adventive species successfully coexist in a novel environment. Exotic lady beetle species were introduced into North America for biological control in agricultural systems and have since become dominant species within many native communities. Competitive interactions have been primarily investigated among native and exotic lady beetle species to assess mechanisms of decline and the impact of invasion, and yet two species of invaders, Harmonia axyridis and Coccinella septempunctata have become co-dominant in many of these communities. In this study, we investigated coexistence via spatial and temporal niche partitioning among H. axyridis and C. septempunctata using a 31-year dataset from southwestern Michigan, USA. We found evidence of long-term coexistence of these two invaders through a combination of small-scale environmental, habitat, and seasonal mechanisms. Across years, H. axyridis and C. septempunctata experienced patterns of cyclical dominance likely related to yearly variation in temperatures and precipitation. Within years, populations of C. septempunctata peaked early in the growing season around 550 degree days, while H. axyridis populations peaked later in the season around 1220 degree days. Habitat preferences for C. septempunctata were primarily crops such as soybean, wheat, and alfalfa, whereas H. axyridis did not display strong habitat preferences. These findings suggest that within this region H. axyridis is a broad habitat and environmental generalist, while C. septempunctata has more specific environmental niche preferences. These ecological differences have contributed to the continued coexistence among these two invaders, seemingly via the storage effect. Understanding mechanisms that allow coexistence and success of dominant exotic species contributes to native biodiversity conservation management of invaded ecosystems.

show abstract

Landscape change and alien invasions drive shifts in native lady beetle communities over a century

Perry,

Bahlai,

Assal

et al. 2024

Ecological Applications

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Understanding causes of insect population declines is essential for the development of successful conservation plans, but data limitations restrict assessment across spatial and temporal scales. Museum records represent a source of historical data that can be leveraged to investigate temporal trends in insect communities. Native lady beetle decline has been attributed to competition with established alien species and landscape change, but the relative importance of these drivers is difficult to measure with short‐term field‐based studies. We assessed distribution patterns for native lady beetles over 12 decades using museum records, and evaluated the relative importance of alien species and landscape change as factors contributing to changes in communities. We compiled occurrence records for 28 lady beetle species collected in Ohio, USA, from 1900 to 2018. Taxonomic beta‐diversity was used to evaluate changes in lady beetle community composition over time. To evaluate the relative influence of temporal, spatial, landscape, and community factors on the captures of native species, we constructed negative binomial generalized additive models. We report evidence of declines in captures for several native species. Importantly, the timing, severity, and drivers of these documented declines were species‐specific. Land cover change was associated with declines in captures, particularly for Coccinella novemnotata which declined prior to the arrival of alien species. Following the establishment and spread of alien lady beetles, processes of species loss/gain and turnover shifted communities toward the dominance of a few alien species beginning in the 1980s. Because factors associated with declines in captures were highly species‐specific, this emphasizes that mechanisms driving population losses cannot be generalized even among closely related native species. These findings also indicate the importance of museum holdings and the analysis of species‐level data when studying temporal trends in insect populations.

show abstract

Cascading effects: insights from the U.S. Long Term Ecological Research Network

Cited by 12 publications

References 128 publications

Cryptophytes: An emerging algal group in the rapidly changing Antarctic Peninsula marine environments

Cryptophytes: An emerging algal group in the rapidly changing Antarctic Peninsula marine environments

Coexistence between similar invaders: The case of two cosmopolitan exotic insects

Landscape change and alien invasions drive shifts in native lady beetle communities over a century

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About